My Journey to Become a Personal Trainer and the Change I Want to Bring

Why I Want to Be a Personal Trainer

When I decided to become a personal trainer, I had one big goal: to make fitness something everyone can enjoy, no matter who they are or how they experience life.

As someone who is neurodivergent and has struggled with anxiety, I’ve seen how hard it can be to feel welcome in gyms. I know what it’s like to feel like you don’t fit in. That’s why I want to help make fitness spaces better for everyone, especially for people like me who don’t fit the “typical” mould.

Why This Is So Important to Me

Click here to read related blog about the need for gym accessibility and here for how I have managed my anxieties head on.

Fitness has changed my life, but it wasn’t easy. Gyms often felt overwhelming because of bright lights, loud music, and crowds. These sensory challenges, combined with my social anxiety, made it really hard for me to feel comfortable.

My goal is to change this for others. I want everyone, whether they’re neurodivergent, managing mental health struggles, or just feeling like they don’t belong, to feel safe and supported in fitness spaces.

Even as I work on becoming a qualified personal trainer, I’ve faced challenges. The process isn’t set up to support trainers with unique needs, like offering reasonable adjustments during assessments or guidance on mental health accommodations.

My Big Goal: Making Gyms More Welcoming

I want to go beyond being a personal trainer. My dream is to become a “Not So Typical” consultant, helping gyms and fitness organizations make their spaces better for everyone.

Here’s what that means to me:

• Sensory-friendly gyms: Adjusting things like lighting, sound levels, and layout to make gyms more comfortable.
• Inclusive training: Teaching gym staff how to work with people who are neurodivergent or have disabilities.
• Better support for mental health: Making sure gyms are places where people feel safe, calm, and cared for.

I want gyms to be places where everyone can feel good from the moment they walk in the door, all the way through their fitness journey.

What I’ve Learned So Far

While working toward my qualification, I’ve realised something big: the fitness industry needs to change how it supports trainers, too.

If I have to fight for adjustments just to get qualified, what does that mean for other aspiring trainers who face similar challenges? The process should be more flexible and welcoming, so more people with different abilities and experiences can join the industry.

Let’s Make Fitness Inclusive

The fitness world is supposed to be about helping people grow and feel stronger. To do that, we need to welcome everyone, no matter their background or abilities.

This isn’t just a career for me, it’s a mission. I want to see a fitness industry where:

• Neurodivergent trainers are celebrated for their unique perspectives.
• Mental health needs are supported, not ignored.
• Everyone, no matter their ability, feels like they belong.

Let’s Work Together

To anyone who has ever felt like the fitness industry wasn’t for them: I see you, and I want to change that.

And to gyms and fitness organisations: it’s time to grow. Let’s make fitness a space where everyone can thrive.